The D.C. Power Grab That Really Matters

RealClearPolitics ^ | November 18, 2008 | Salena Zito

[Salena Zito]

No one outside of Washington Beltway types seems to be paying attention to a fight in a small corner of Congress. That's unfortunate, because whoever wins will set the tone not only of the 111th Congress but will determine in large part how the Obama administration will fare in its critical first two years.

The clash is for boss of one of the most powerful positions in the new Congress, the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The challenger is Rep. Henry Waxman, an outspoken California Democrat; the lion who is (barely) holding onto his scepter is Rep. John Dingell, a temperamental Democrat from Michigan.

Here is why this fight matters: The chairmanship determines which legislation reaches the House floor, or at least two-thirds of it. That is a lot of power and persuasion to leap from between two old-school yet decidedly different congressmen.

"This is a battle for the premiere authorizing committee in Congress," says Rep. Mike

[Tijeras_Slim]

Geez... what a choice...

[Shermy]

Waxman is Wall Street’s Cap and Trade guy. Dingell is against it.

That is what it is about.

[Ancesthntr]

Unsaid in this article is the impact that this fight will have on gun rights. Waxman will have jurisdiction over the EPA - and just watch this anti-gun fanatic pressure the EPA to issue regulations that will substantially prevent the use of bullets containing lead.

Waxman MUST be stopped.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Unsaid in this article is the impact that this fight will have on gun rights.***

But remember, Both Dingell and former dem Ben Nighthorse Campbell voted FOR the 1993 assault weapons ban. Dingell even resigned from the NRA board of directors to vote for it.

[Jacquerie]

Both Obama and Speaker Pelosi have indicated they want . . . to make the country energy self-sufficient in 10 years.

Toss in socialized healthcare. Add much higher income and cap gains taxes.

Guaranteed tyranny.

[An Old Man]

"Waxman MUST be stopped."

I disagree! Henry would make a fine Chairman. If he might have use for an assistant, Maxine Waters should prove to be an able assistant.

If you want waxman stopped, do it. While Henry and his communist cohorts can enact a ban on lead bullets, there is no way he can "prevent the use of bullets containing lead".

[SunkenCiv]

The clash is for boss of one of the most powerful positions in the new Congress, the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The challenger is Rep. Henry Waxman, an outspoken California Democrat; the lion who is (barely) holding onto his scepter is Rep. John Dingell, a temperamental Democrat from Michigan.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Please, no pics of the flaming nostrils.

[SuziQ]

The immediate issue that could be affected is offshore drilling, on which Obama and most other Democrats have shown some flexibility in the face of high energy prices. Dingell is for it, Waxman against it. And if some kind of drilling amendment to an energy bill does not get through the committee in question, it could make a bipartisan energy policy impossible.

How can there be a BI-partisan energy policy when even the Democrats can't agree, and they're the ones deciding whether or not legislation even gets introduced?

[Still Thinking]

No, Super Nostril Man is worse.